The Square restaurant at The Vineyard Hotel

I think we all know that so much of what a restaurant experience is is based on how you feel when you first enter the space. That is what I think makes the Square restaurant at The Vineyard Hotel so special.
The restaurant is a magnificent glass roofed space with green surrounds. The indoor trees makes one feel in tune with nature and there is a tranquility which one rarely finds at hotel restaurants. The interior design of the space is elegant, but different too, with oversized fabric chairs which I simply adored. This coupled with the sounds of a waterfall and piano music make for an intimate experience which perfectly matches the fine food and wine on offer.
The menu boasts starters such as Saldanah Bay mussel chowder with lemon verbena and white wine cream, peri peri duck livers with portobellini mushrooms and coriander, and a mushroom mousse in a pastry cigar with baby leaves, a horseradish emulsion, semi-dried cherry tomatoes and toasted hazelnuts. This to name but a few…and of course then on offer for mains a selection of exquisitely prepared meals such as farmed cob with tomato risotto, confit fennel puree’, brussel sprouts and dill foam. On offer also chalmar beef or sirloin with sides such as gorgonzola dauphinoise, smoked tomato hollandaise, panne bone marrow and more. Then there is also roasted pork neck stuffed with onion, bacon and thyme with baby vegetables, butternut puree’ and an apple and sage gel. But that’s not all, additional sides can be selected and if for whatever reason you do not feel like dining a’ la carte, there is also a sushi dinner menu on offer run by skilled sushi masters.
And then of course there is dessert, and no meal would be complete without at least a little something sweet, so if a tart tatin is your thing you can try the sweet potato one on offer or if not, the twice baked souffle’ tart with salted caramel parfait (here is where I must add that I could just eat the salted caramel parfait), and then of course the trusty Creme’ brulee does make the menu, but this one with strawberry sobert and a pistachio nut tuille.
Now as you may have gathered I am a fan, from the atmosphere that the restaurant has, to the fine food and wine I got to indulge in, but then I must make mention of the excellent service too. It is attentive without being overbearing, the waiting staff seem to know just when an order needs to be taken or a glass needs to be charged. All in all a very special dining experience not to soon be forgotten.

This however is not where my eating at The Square restaurant ended, being lucky enough to spend the evening at the hotel I also got to experience the incredible spread they put on for breakfast, and it is one of those ‘oh gosh where do I start, and can I fit it all in because I want to’ experiences. From the fresh fruits to the pastries to the hot food, this for me was breakfast heaven, so I took my time to indulge in a little bit of everything…including the creamy mushrooms on toast with spinach and a soft poached egg, and there is something about cutting into the yolk and watching it ooze down the sides of that mound of perfectly prepared mushrooms that was simply heaven for me.

What more is left to say except that I cannot wait to be back in that space to indulge some more, and trust me if you haven’t yet experienced all that The Square restaurant at The Vineyard has to offer, just do it!